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Michigan State rockets up to No. 11 in AP Top 25, making biggest jump of any team in final poll

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Michigan State senior Adreian Payne helps his buddy, eight-year-old Lacey Holsworth, of St. Johns, Mich., with the net as they celebrate cutting it down after beating Michigan for the Big Ten tournament championship at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Sunday, March 16, 2014.
(Melanie Maxwell | melaniemaxwell@mlive.com)

EAST LANSING -- The tangible benefits of Michigan State's three straight wins to take the Big Ten tournament title had a short shelf life, quickly overcome by bracket buzz.

But the Spartans (26-8) received one final shout out for their domination in Indianapolis when they jumped 11 spots in The Associated Press' final Top 25 poll of the 2013-2014 college basketball season.

With resounding weekend wins over Wisconsin and Michigan, the Spartans' jump in the polls was the largest of any top 25 team, leapfrogging the Badgers to finish at No. 11.

Iowa State rose seven spots to No. 9 after winning the Big 12 tournament and UCLA was bumped up six spots to No. 20 after upsetting No. 4 Arizona in the Pac-12 tournament final.

In comparing the NCAA tournament field to the final rankings, it appears the analysts have a point in calling the Midwest Regional the most loaded portion of the bracket. The region includes four teams that finished in the AP top 10 in No. 2 Wichita State, No. 5 Louisville, No. 7 Michigan and No. 8 Duke.